The Art of Street Painting

Street painting has been recorded throughout Europe since the 16th century and is considered an important expression of popular art. A crowd would gather whenever an itinerant artist used his chalks to turn the ordinary pavement into a fine work of art. In Italy, street painters are called 'Madonnari' after their historical practice of creating chalk paintings of the Madonna. This 400 year old tradition has seen a revival in the past twenty years with the birth of street panting festivals throughout Europe and the United States.

Check out some of my street painting creations here or visit my Flickr album for more. Visit the 'Events' page for festival listings.Flickr

'Sistine Chapel', Italian Street Painting Marin, San Rafael, CA
'Hello', Tiburon Art Festival, Marin County, California, 8x10 ft.
Hudson Valley Chalk Festival, New Paltz, New York 12x12 ft.
'Swimmer', Italian Street Painting Marin, San Rafael, California.
'Sailor', Sarasota Chalk Festival, Sarasota, Florida 12x12 ft.
'Cowgirl with Beer', Houston Via Colori, Texas, 10x10 ft.
'Young Audrey Hepburn', Houston Via Colori, Texas, 10x10 ft.
Anna Maria Island Chalk Festival, Florida, 10x10 ft.
'Maria Felix', Festival Madonnari, Guanajuato, Mexico, 8x10 ft
Hudson Valley Chalk Festival, New Paltz, New York, 12x12 ft.
North Beach Festival, San Francisco, California, 8x10 ft.
'Young Lucille Ball', Italian Street Painting Marin, San Rafael, CA, 12x12 ft.
'Holland Holiday', LelySTART Festival, Lelystad, Netherlands 10x10 ft.
'Hedy Lamarr', Lake Worth Street Painting Festival, Florida, 12x12 ft.
'Glam Clown', Sarasota Chalk Festival, Florida, 12x12 ft.
'Las Cascadas', Colores de Chiapas, Mexico, 10x14 ft.